Mechanism for interleaving paper.



H. P. BROWN & c. L. JOHNSTON.

MECHANISM FOR INTERLEAVING PAPER. APPLICATION FILED 050.9.1914.

l gggfim Q Patented Apr. 10, 191?.

H. P. BROWN & C. L. JOHNSTON.

MECHANISM FOR INTERLEAVING PAPER. APPLICATION FILED 020.9.1914.

Patented Apr. 10, 1917 v 2 SHEETSSHEET 2- INVENTORS tion.

UNITED STATES PATENTFF1EO I HORACE P. BROWN AND CLARENCE L. JOHNSTON, 0F OAKLAND, CALIFORNFJA.

MECHANISM FOR INTERLEAVING PAPER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 14]), 1911?.

Application filed December 9, 1914;. Serial No. 876,344.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, HORACE P: BROWN and CLARENCE L. JOHNSTON, both citizens of the United States, residing at Oakland, in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Mechanism for Interleaving Paper, of which the following is a specifica- This invention relates to a machine for cutting, folding and interleaving paper, and pertains especially to machines for making and stacking paper towels from a plurality of continuous webs.

lln a prior application which we filed on or about December 15, 1913, Serial No.

806,732, we have. shown and described a machine of this character, and on which the device of this application is in the nature of an improvement; the special object of this invention being to simplify the mechanism and the increasing of the eiiiciency of the machine.

llhe invention consists of the parts and the combination and construction of parts as hereinafter more fully described and claimed, having reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation in partial section and in part diagrammatic illustrating the invention.

Fig. 2 is a detail in side elevation and partial section of the folding and carrying mechanisms.

Fig. 3 is a perspective of a folded article.

In Fig. 3 there is shown a towel or sheet such as is produ ced by the present novel machine, each sheet comprising when folded,

a top leaf (1 and a lower leaf a connected along the fold a the outer edge of the bottom leaf a being folded outward at a to form a transversely extending narrow flap marginal reinforcing part w,- the three plies a, a and a being arranged in zigzag.

The leaves are stacked by the present machine in such fashion that between the leaves a and a -of one sheet and adjacent to the fold a thereof, there is inter'folded a leaf 6 of the next sheet, whose fold is at the opposite side of the stack from the fold a of the firstsheet; in other words, the ma chine will produce a stack of sheets designated for the purpose of identification as A and B, with all of the folds a at the left of the stack, while all of the folds b will be at the right of the stack, as viewed in Fig. 2. The sheets in the stacks A]B being otherwise folded identically.

A stack of sheets thus interfolded is generally dispensed from a suitable holder not here shown, whereby the bottom-most leaf a of a sheet with its marginal edge a is exposed. As the sheets are used from the bottom, the sheet removed from the stack draws out therefrom the next interlocked leaf or portion of the succeeding sheet. The present machine is designed to fold and interleave these sheets where they are to be used as paper towels, and the sheets are neces sarily of considerable size.

It is to produce these towels, cut, folded and stacked in the manner above described, that we have devised the present machine. 2 is a suitable frame structure in which is appropriately mounted a pair of opposed .cylinders'1516, having respective shafts 1417. The paper webs from which the respective sheets A-lB are to be cut, are indicated at C,D and come from any suitable source and are fed and tensioned by any appropriate means. The two cylinders 15 and 16 are geared and driven to operate at uniform speed .in opposite directions; their peripheries being in such juxtaposition between the shafts 14 and 17 as to permit the paper drawn from the stock to pass therebetween. 7

Mounted longitudinally in and projecting beyond the circumference of each of the cylinders 15 and 16 are fixed folder blades 21, of which there are two in each cylinder, and being diametrically set in their respective cylinders and-the cylinders so set that their blades are at a position 90 to the blades of the opposite cylinder. During a complete revolution of the two geared cylinders first one and then the other of the folder blades 21 ,will be alternately projected across the diametral'plane between the axes of the shafts 1417. For the clearance and entrance of the blades 21 into" the cooperating portions of the opposite cylinders, these latter are provided with diametrically opposite longitudinal slots 22 which are timed to register accurately with the projecting blades 21 as the latter rotate, and thus as the paper webs (3-D are fed to and drawn around by the cylinders 15-16 the paper will be projected by one of the folder.

blades, 21, Fig. 1, into the slot 22 of the The grippers are automatically thrown into pinching, clamping and creasing engagement with the stock folded over the longitudinal edge of the interposed folder blade 21, where it lies in the slot 22 by the springs 24.

As the cylinders 1516 rotate, one of the folder blades 21 from one cylinder, as 16, will project into the registered slot 22 to force the aper therein, whereupon it will be clamped y the grippers 23 and carried by these during the rotation of the cylinder 15 downwardly in the direction of the arrow 0-, and when the cylinder is turned a quarter revolution, the next folder blade 21, in this case on-cylinder 15, will be carried into registration with and project into the approaching longitudinal slot 22 on the cylinder 16; whereupon the grippers 23 in the cylinder 16 into which the folder blade 21 has projected will automatically operate to pinch and clamp the paper, the continued rotation of the cylinder 16 carrying the closed clamp downward in the direction of the arrow d, thus carrying the folded portion of the stock to the left of the stack, as shown; the alternate deposits of the folds continuing so long as the machine is in operation and paper fed to the rolls. This alternate positioning of the folds of the stock would occur irrespective of whether therewould be feeding into the machine paper from one or the other, or both sides thereof.

The cylinders 15-16 coiiperate with suitable cutter carriers 35 which are fast on shafts 36, suitably journaled in the frame 2, and one of the shafts 36 has secured on one end an actuating gear 37 of suitable proportions to and engaging with a respective gear 13 carried by the shaft 17, the other shaft 36 is being similarly driven.

The cutter heads 35 are each diametrically oppositely provided with fixed longitudinal cutter blades 40, one of which is shown in Fig. 2 as in registration with a longitudinal complementary slot 41. g

In order that neither of the entering webs CD is dropped from the cylinders 1516 after it has been severed by the cutters 40, there is provided a suitable number of stationary pins/16 spaced longitudinally across the circumferences of the cylinders, the pins being so disposed with relation to the cutter slot 41 that after the paper is severed by the cutter the pins 46 will pierce the folowing and adjacent end of the stock and during the continued rotation of the cylinders hold and draw the paper around. The pins 46 are As the fold of paper or towel is released by v the grippers 23 of the cylinder 15 the following end of the towel on the upper quarter surface of the cylinder 15 and lying between the folder blade 21 of the cylinder 16 and the cutter 40 of the cylinder 15 will be carried to the right, as at arrow 0.

Thus, all mechanism to project and retract the pins 46 is by this invention eliminated.

It will be seen thatthe length of each towel section as it is severed from the infeeding web of stock is about equal to onehalf of the circumference of'the cylinder or drum 1501' 16, over which it is drawn into the machine; and it will be further seen that while a portion of the stock is being severed at the top of the cylinders or drums 1516 by the cotiperation of the cutter blades 40 of the cutter heads 35, coincidentally therewith the approximate central portion of the strip at the moment of being cut at the top is being folded by the cotiperation of the projecting folder blade 21 of one cylinder entering the slot formed for its reception in the contiguous portion of the other cylinder, so that, in other words, each towel is folded transversely and approximately one-half of its length. r

By providing the folding devices in quarter positions uponv the opposite drums 1516, first one section of the towel will be folded at the bight of one of the grippers 23 of one cylinder, and this fold drawn, as in Fig. 1 downward to the right and released while the next succeeding towel is transversely folded to form a bight by the opposite cylinder or drum by its respective acting gripper, to carry the bight or fold of the .towel to the left; this alternate disposition and folding of the towel sections progressing constantly as a stack of towels is pro- 'duced.

By disposing the projecting ed e of the folder blades 21 in rear of the ife receiving slots 41 when the knife severs the paper forward of the folding blades, and the folding blades move down into coiiperative relation with the adjacent slot 22 of the.

other cylinder, the short lap a of the towel will be formed by the short margin of the towel section existing between the edge of the folder blade21 and the slot 41 when the folder blade 21 enters the adjacent slot 22 and the stock is pinched by the grippers 23; it being remembered that the folder blade 21 at the same time that it folds the leading end of the stock which has been cut at-the slot 41 also folds the next following towel from the opposite cylinder midway its length and thus as the double folded stock is carried by the grippers downwardly in the direction of the arrows c or (Z, respectively, so accordingly will the bight or fold a or inclose the narrow marginal lap a or b.

It is manifest that the details of construction may be "aried without departing from the principle of the invention.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. Mechanism for interleaving sheets which consists of a pair of parallel proximate rollers, folding means on said rollers for folding sheet sections two-ply, means for cutting the sheets successively from a plurality of webs, means on each roller for transferring thereto the trailing edge of each sheet section from its respective roller, and means on each roller for engaging the leading edge of the web adjacent the cut edge and in advance of the line of fold for drawing the web around with the roller.

2. Mechanism for interfoldingv sheets which consists of a pair of parallel proximate rollers, folding means on said rollers for folding sheet sections two-ply, means for cutting the sheets successively from a plurality of webs, means on each roller for transferring thereto the trailing edge of each sheet section from its respective roller, and means on each roller for engaging the leading edge of the web adjacent the cut edge and in advance of the line of fold for drawing the web around with the roller, said engaging means comprising fixed pins adapted to pierce the web.

3. Mechanism for interfolding sheets which consists of a pair of parallel proximate rollers, folding means on said rollers for folding sheet sections two-ply, means for cutting the sheets successively from a plurality of webs, means on each roller for transferring thereto the trailing edge of each sheet section from its respective roller, and means on each roller for engaging the leading edge of the web adjacent the cut edge and in advance of the line of fold for drawing the web around with the roller, said engaging means comprising fixed pins adapted to pierce the webapproximately at the time of cutting actionl 4. Mechanism for interfolding sheets, which consists of a pair of parallel proximate rollers, folding means on said rollers for folding sheet sections two-ply, means for cutting the sheets successively from a plurality of webs, means on each roller for transferring thereto the trailing edge of each sheet section from its respective roller comprising reciprocating pins, and means on each roller for engaging the leading edge of the web adjacent to the cut edge and in advance of the line of fold for drawing the web around with the roller, said engaging means comprising fixed pins adapted to pierce the web approximately at the time of cutting action. 7

5. Mechanism for interfolding sheets, whichconsists of a pair of parallel proximate rollers, folding means on said rollers for folding sheet sections two-ply, means for cutting the sheets successively from a plurality of webs, means on each roller for transferring thereto the trailing edge of each sheet section from its respective roller comprising reciprocating pins, and means on each roller for engaging the leading edge of the Web adjacent to the cut edge and in advance of the line of fold for drawing the Web around with the roller, said engaging means being adapted to pierce the web approximately at the time of cutting action.

6. In a machine for folding sheets of paper, a pair of cooperating parallel cylinders, folding means on each of said cylinders, a cutting mechanism for severing the webs on each cylinder, fixed means on the cylinders in front of said folding means for engaging the leading ends of the paper as severed by the cutting means, and gripping means on each cylinder coiiperating with the folding means on the other cylinder for folding each sheet and operating to withdraw the paper from the fixed means.

7. lfn a machine for folding sheets of paper, a pair of coperating parallel cylinders each provided with folding means, a cutting mechanism for severing the webs on the cylinders, means on the cylinders for engaging the leading ends of the paper as severed by the cutting mechanism, and gripping means on each cylinder cooperating with the folding means on the other cylinder for folding each sheet centrally and operating to withdraw the paper from-the engaging means.

8. In a machine for folding sheets of paper, a pair of cooperating parallel cylinders each provided with folding means, a cutting mechanism for severing the webs on the cylinders, pins'on the cylinders for engaging the leading ends of the paper as severed by the cutting mechanism, and movable means on each cylinder cotiperating with the folding means on the other cylinder for folding each sheet centrally and operating to withdraw the paper from the pins.

9. In a machine for folding sheets of paper, a pair of coiiperating cylinders, each provided with folding means, a cutting mechanism for severin the Webs on the cylinders, fixed pins on t e cylinders for encooperating cylinder for withdrawing operating with the folding means on the other cylinder for folding each sheet centrally and operating to withdraw the paper from the fixed pins.

10. Mechanism for interfolding sheets which consistsof a pair of parallel rollers, folding means on said rollers for folding sheet sections two-ply, means for cutting the sheets successively from a plurality of webs, means on each roller for transferring thereto the trailing edge ofeach sheet section from its respective roller comprising reciprocating pins, and means for engaging the leading edge of the web adjacent the out edge and in advance of the line of fold for drawing the web around with the roller.

11. In a machine for folding paper, cooperating cylinders each having folding means and adapted to receive overlappedsections of paper therebetween, means on each of said cylinders for engaging the leading ends of said sections, and gripping and transfer means on each of said cylinders adapted during the folding operation of said machine to lie on relatively opposite sidesof said engaging means onthe opposed cylinder for withdrawing the paper therefrom.

12. In a machine for folding paper, cooperating cylinders each having'folding means and adapted to receive overlapped sections of paper therebetween, pins on each of said cylinders for engaging the leading ends of said sections, and gripping and transfer means on each of said cylinders adapted during the folding operation of said machine to lie on relatively opposite sides of said engaging pins on the cooperatin cylinder for withdrawing the paper there 'rom.

13. In a machine for folding paper, cooperating cylinders each having folding means and adapted to receive overlapped sections of paper therebetween, means on each of said cylinders for engaging the leading ends of sand sections, and simultaneously operated gripping and transfer means on each of said cylinders adapted during the folding operation of said machine to lie on relatively opposite sides of said engaging means on the the paper therefrom.

14. In a machine for folding paper, cooperating cylinders each having folding means and adapted to receive overlapped sections of. paper therebetween, means on each of said cylinders'for engaging the leading ends of said sections, and positively operated gripping and transfer means on each of said cylinders adapted during the folding operation of said machine to lie on relatively opposite sides of said engaging means on the cooperating cylinder for withdrawing the paper therefrom.

15. In a machine for folding paper,-a pair of cooperating cylinders adapted to receive overlapped webs therebetween, cutters 00- operating with said cylinders for severing the webs, and folding blades on the cylinders adjacent and in posterior relation to the point of contact of said cutters with said cylinders for producing a fold in the web adjacent the severed end thereof.

16. In a machine for folding paper, a pair of cooperating cylinders adapted to receive overlapped webs therebetween, cutters cooperating with saidcylinders for severing the webs, folding blades on each cylinder in posterior relation to the point of contact of each of said cutters with said cylinders, and means for engaging the severed ends of said web in advanceof the folding blades.

17. In a machine for folding paper, a pair of cooperating cylinders adapted to receive overlapped webs therebetween, cutters cooperating with. said cylinders for severing the webs, folding blades on each cylinder in posterior relation to the point of contact of each of said cutters with said cylinders, means for engaging the severed ends'of said web in advance of the folding blades, and gripping means on each of the cylinders for cooperation with the folding blades on the opposite cylinders to fold the webs and withdraw the leading end from said means.

18. In a machine for folding paper, a pair pf cooperating cylinders adapted to receive overlapped sheet sections therebetween, folder blades on each of said cylinders in posterior relation to the leading ends of said sheet sections," gripper-means on each of the cylinders cooperating with the folder blades to form the paper in advance thereof scribing witnesses.

noaacn r. BROWN. crannncn L. .ronnsron,

Witnesses: a

J. M. BUTLER, A. 'I. MAcKnnzm. 

